Mr. Alan WilliamsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred by the Department on behalf of current and past(a) civil servants and (b) advisers and secondees; [8750]
(2) what legal costs, arising from the Scott inquiry, have been incurred, on behalf of Ministers and ex-Ministers, by his Department; and if he will name the individuals concerned. [8752]
§ Mr. HanleyThe cost of legal services charged by the Treasury Solicitor's Department together with accounts settled to date from public funds for the provision of external legal services incurred on behalf of Ministers, ex-Ministers, civil servants and former civil servants of my Department in connection with the Scott inquiry is £318,165.46. No legal costs have been incurred on behalf of other advisers and secondees. The cost of any legal advice in connection with the Scott inquiry given by Government lawyers as part of their normal duties cannot be quantified.
It is not the Government's policy to identify the individuals who have received legal advice either directly or indirectly.